Adjustable door control mechanism



Dec. 17, 1963 c. F. COFFEY 3,114,541

ADJUSTABLE noon CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l i 34 A) lggzgrok.

:0 l CHARLES OFFE) i A TT'ORNEY Dec. 17, 1963 c. F. COFFEY 3,114,541

ADJUSTABLE DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 19 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I3 =v M4 7' PUMP MOTOR .SW/ TOH POWER SOURCE f ME\AN$ A FIG. 6

INVENTOR.

CHARLES F COFFE) 2 9 ZZ WL United States Patent Ofi 3,114,541 Patented Dec. 17., 1963 3,114,541 ADJUSTABLE DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM Charles F. Coifey, 847 Lincoln Ave, St. Paul 5, Minn. Filed Aug. 19, 1960, Sen No. 50,641 2 Claims. (Cl. 26866) This invention relates to mechanism adapted to open and close doors in cooperation with suitable control means; in particular, it comprehends an improvement in door control apparatus whereby the angular position of the door may be adjusted in response to individual needs. The invention also relates to new and improved door control apparatus adapted for mounting on the side of a door lintel or frame rather than in the lintel member itself. Specifically, the invention comprises certain improvements and modifications in the door control disclosed in my application entitled Automatic Door Control, filed July 8, 1960, bearing Serial Number 41,672.

The automatic door control comprising the subject matter of the above mentioned application is relatively simple in function and structure as compared with various other hydraulically and electrically operated prior art devices of a similar character. As outlined in the aforementioned application, the force required to open a door is lessened by employing mechanical leverage in a novel manner with a consequent reduction in the size and expense of the necessary control assembly required for normal operation. However, the control apparatus d scribed must be installed directly over the door in the lintel or door frame member and no means are provided for adjusting the angular amount of travel in a door.

Accordingly it is a broad object of this invention to provide an improved adjustable door control.

Another object of this invention is to provide door control mechanism adapted for installation on the side of a door frame or lintel immediately above the door.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a door opening and closing device novel means for adjusting the amount of angular rotation or swing of the door.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a door opening and closing device novel means for imparting kinetic energy to said device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in a hydraulic opening and spring closing door control novel and facile means for winding the spring therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved door control mechanism that is of simple inexpensive construction, yet highly durable, effective and easy to install and maintain.

Another object of this invention is to provide in an automatic door operator new and improved adjustable means for opening and closing a door without subjecting the door structure or related apparatus to excessive stresses.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed specification and accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment thereof is shown by way of illustration only.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective vie-w, with parts broken away, of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the rewind apparatus forming part of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of a part of the link member used in the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a top view, partially in section and with parts removed, showing the invention operatively connected to a door in an open and closed position, the open position being indicated in solid lines and the closed position being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective View, with parts broken away, of the operator forming part of the invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, the invention, designated by the reference character A, is shown attached to a supporting structure B, which is preferably the lintel or overhead horizontal frame of a door C. The invention includes an elongated box-like housing 10 that is square or rectangular in transverse cross section and adapted for fastening by bolts or similar means (not shown) to the face 12 of structure B. The lower surface 14 of housing It is preferably parallel with and vertically spaced upwardly a slight distance from the top horizontal edge 16 of door C. Door C may be pivot hung, butt hung, or pivotally mounted by any suitable means. A door operator 20 is mounted by means of brackets 18 within housing 10 so that the bottom surface thereof is substan tially flush with lower surface 14 of housing 10. A su-itably enlarged aperture or cutout 11 is provided in surface 14 of housing is to accomodate the lower surface of operator 20.

Operator 20, shown and described more :fully in my co-pending application referred to hereinabove, is provided with a fluid pressure motor 22 for opening door C and a coil spring mechanism 23 for closing door C. As explained in said application and shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, fluid is supplied under pressure to fluid pressure motor 22 through hydraulic line 13 and entrance fitting 26 by means of a pump 15 and an electric motor 17 which is energized and controlled by mat switch means 19 located in the path of door C. The fluid returns to the pump system through exit fitting 29 and return line 21.

The introduction of fluid under pressure to fluid pressure motor 22 drives a piston 25 therein in a reciprocal manner which, by means of a suitable rack and pinion arrangement 27, causes motor shaft 28 to rotate. The movement of motor shaft 28 is transmitted to drive shaft -36 by means of roller chain 31 engageable by means of link plates 32 with sprockets 30 and 34 which are carried by motor shaft 28 and drive shaft 36 respectively. This results in the clockwise (as viewed in FIGURES 4 and 5) rotation of arm 38 thereby opening door C. Closing of door C is accomplished by means of a coil spring 23 coaxial with drive shaft 36 and biased therearound so as to resist the clockwise or opening rotation of arm 38. The arrangement and operating sequence of the components making up operator 20 are fully set forth and described in my co-pending application.

As explained, arm 38 is attached to shaft 36 and rotates therewith. Further provided is a cylindrical ratchet sleeve 40 engageable with the internal coil spring of operator 20 so as to rotate therewith yet free to rotate independently of shaft 36. FIGURE 2 illustrates in more detail the construction of sleeve 40. As shown, sleeve 40 has at its lower edge a series of radial notches 42 extending upwardly from the upper face of arm 38. A pivotal L-shaped dog 44 is pivotally attached to the top of arm 38 adjacent sleeve 41). Dog 44 is characterized by a vertically downward extending leg 48 that is engageable with the side of arm 38 and a horizontally radially extending tooth 46 adapted to engage the notches 42 of sleeve 40. By pivoting dog 44 so that tooth 46 is inserted into one of the notches 42 of sleeve 40, a mechanical connection is afforded between the coil spring of operator 2i) and arm 38. Thus when dog 44 is engaged, arm 38 is under constant spring tension. Door C may be disengaged from spring tension by moving tooth 46 out of contact with notches 42. For opposite hand doors dog 44 may be positioned on the other side of arm 38.

Winding of the spring is easily accomplished by disengaging arm 38 from door C so that its entire length may be employed in exerting a considerable leverage against the force of the spring. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, arm 38 is pivotally connected at its outer end to an elongated link bar 50 which is in turn pivotally carried by door C by virtue of fixed bracket 52. A curved neck 54 at the free end of arm 38 permits a proper geometrical relationship between it and link bar 50 so that a minimum of space is required to open and close the door.

Turning now to FIGURES 3 and 4, the structure and function of the adjustable feature of the invention will be explained. Roller chain 31, as described previously, transmits door opening force from motor shaft 28 to drive shaft 36 by means of sprockets 30 and 34. A corollary function of chain 31 is to transmit the return motion of drive shaft 36 to fluid pressure motor 22 to attenuate the spring action imposed upon the door during the closing cycle. To restrict the movement of roller chain 31 with respect to sprockets 30 and 34 and thus delimit the travel of door C, the individual open tooth engaging link plates 32 of chain 31 are replaced, as required, with a solid linking plate 33. This change is shown more particularly in FIGURE 3 wherein a solid link plate 33, having a solid central body 35, is provided in place of a conventional open link plate 32. It can be seen that solid linking plate 33 has no provision for receiving and engaging the individual teeth 24 of sprockets 30 and 34. When solid linking plate 33 makes contact with either sprocket 30 or 34 further motion in the direction of the travel thereof is inhibited, resulting in the limiting of the movement of door C. By positioning one or more solid linking plates 33 in chain 31, or by closing an existing link plate 32, the angular position of door C in its closed and open position can be set with a fair amount of precision. Suitable material can be selected to withstand the dynamic shock loading imposed upon teeth 24 of sprockets 30, 34, and solid linking plates 33 when the door reaches the terminal stages of opening or closing. In FIGURES 4 and 5, solid link plate 33 is shown in contact with teeth 24 of sprocket 34 just as door C reaches a position (as indicated by the solid line representation thereof) approximately 90 from the closed position. By moving chain 31 and solid link plate 33 to the left of a large opening angle (i.e. an obtuse angle) could be obtained; conversely, moving solid plate 33 to the right would result in setting the open position of door C at an acuate angle. Intermediate positions may be selected by appropriate changes in the position of solid link plate 33 in chain 31.

Thus there has been shown and described a new and improved adjustable door control mechanism; while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in the drawing and accompanying description, it must be understood that such a manner of disclosure does not imply a limitation upon the scope and breadth of the invention inasmuch as the invention is to be construed solely according to the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. A door control including a housing, a door operator of the type having fluid pressure door opening means and spring closing means mounted within said housing, a roller chain cooperatively connecting the door opening and closing means of said operator, means operatively connecting said door operator with a door, means integral with said roller chain for limiting the opening and closing movements of said door, means integral with said connecting means for reinovably exerting leverage upon said spring closing means to tension the same, and means for actuating said door operator.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said limiting means consists of a solid link plate adapted to prevent the operative travel of said roller chain in a predetermined direction whenever the door is in a selected position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 376,947 De Vry Jan. 24, 1888 1,983,521 Cooke Dec. 11, 1934 2,102,321 Keene Dec. 14, 1937 2,128,715 Reich Aug. 30, 1938 2,276,338 Potter et al. Mar. 7, 1942 2,639,142 Morgan et al May 19, 1953 2,893,725 Katz July 7, 1959 2,920,151 Lawick Jan. 5, 1960 

1. A DOOR CONTROL INCLUDING A HOUSING, A DOOR OPERATOR OF THE TYPE HAVING FLUID PRESSURE DOOR OPENING MEANS AND SPRING CLOSING MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, A ROLLER CHAIN COOPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING MEANS OF SAID OPERATOR, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID DOOR OPERATOR WITH A DOOR, MEANS INTEGRAL WITH SAID ROLLER CHAIN FOR LIMITING THE OPENING AND CLOSING MOVEMENTS OF SAID DOOR, MEANS INTEGRAL WITH SAID CONNECTING MEANS FOR REMOVABLY EXERTING LEVERAGE UPON SAID SPRING CLOSING MEANS TO TENSION THE SAME, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID DOOR OPERATOR. 